The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-09-16

| |T where else there
| ALEXANDER HAMILTON. was "A movement
toward union. The states began measures II
surrender their western lands to the genera
government, and the movement progressed
so rapidly that 1t was completed before the
constitution.
Congress had already established mint
and Federal coin. The Bank OF North Amer
lea had been set up. Settlements in the west
ern territory were in rapid progress, and the
settlers were impatient for exact statements
of their relations to government. Already
Spain was harassing the border with I'M
friendly legislation Treaties with the In
dians were imperative and wars probable.
Kentucky and her neighbors were demand
ing, in daily louder tones, free navigation of
the Mississippi, or-a On all sides foreign
and domestic questions pressed the demand
for stronger central government; yet a few
states held back and the others delayed out
of difference to them. Meanwhile Pitt was
enforcing the British navigation acts against
the United States with the utmost severity,
and the "Strong Government Wings" were
making converts. The powers of established
churches in the several states were greatly
curtailed; religious freedom became general,
and by local acts the rights of a citizen in any
state were freely accorded to immigrants from
other states. And the clause on this subject
in the constitution is the only one more OBJ
scure, at any rate more awkwardly worded,
than the laws it superseded Commerce be-
tween the states was being better system
atized. In short, the country was travelling
slowly toward a sort of unity. But the war
between debtor and creditor was raging with
great severity; the soft money men" of
many localities dreaded general government
which would abolish legal tender paper; there
were riots in divers places, and Capt. Daniel
Shay's rebellion in Massachusetts. Com
merce, finances and foreign affairs demanded
stronger government.
On March %, 1855, commissioners from the
two states of Virginia and Maryland met
at Mount Vernon to form plan for the joint
navigation of the Potomac-George Mason
and Alexander Henderson for Virginia, Dan
iel-of-St. Thomas Jenfer, Thomas Stone and
Samuel Chase for Maryland, all assisted by
Washington Their special work was quickly
done, so they discussed general politics, and
ended by drawing up a plan of union for the
two states involving uniform money and
taxes. Maryland promptly acceded and asked
that Delaware and PenSasf fvafia niigiSsDe
added. Virginia argued these matters till
Jan. 81, 17S6, then by large majorities in both
branches invited all the other states to meet
her in convention at Annapolis, Nd, on the
first Monday of the next September. The
sixth congress was in session, and South Car
DINA, by Charles Pinckney, led the move
ment for new government. He proposed
number of amendments to the articles giving
the central government more power, but was
defeated by the extremists Those who wanted
no change and those who wanted an entirely
new system were alike opposed to reform.
The Annapolis convention met but three
states sent no delegates and others ar
rived so late that the short sitting
was over before they could act. The
few present united in an able appeal to con-
gress to order national convention. Even
this action excited violent criticism. The
Nationalist were in despair, when Madison,
or Virginia, raised them again to hope. On
his motion the general assembly unanimously
resolved on Federal convention, to meet at
Philadelphia, May 2, 1857, and draft an EN-
tire constitution to be presented to the states.
AS soon as the news reached New Jersey that |
state, on the 23d of November, acceded and
chose its delegates. Pennsylvania followed |
IN December, North Carolina in January and |
Delaware in February Congress next ap-
proved the measure and then the states fol- |
lowed one by one-all but Rhode Island,
which refused to act as usual. But Mary |
land, distracted by fight over paper money, |
did not elect till near the end of May, and |
New Hampshire was few days later.
On the 14th of May, 1857, the day finally |
vet, only Pennsylvania and Virginia were |
represented; but their delegates repaired to
,he state house, organized and were soon |
Joined by others. On the 18th came South
carolina, on the 18th New York, on the 2lst
Delaware, on the 22d North Carolina. On
he 18th William Churchill Houston, of New
Jersey, previously detained by illness, arrived,
md so the seven states needed for quorum
we're represented-fromt the south, four states,
With nineteen members; from the north,
hree states, with ten members On motion
II Benjamin Franklin Washington was
chosen president of the conven-
ion. On the 2Sth the delegates from Massa-
husetts and Maryland arrived. 1t was a
convention of learned men. There were nine
,raduates of Princeton, four of Yale and six
4 other colleges; at least seven were of some
minence in literature; one, native of Scot
and, had taught in her first universities: a
cry large proportion were well read lawyers,
nd nearly all had had long and valuable
raining in the state legislatures or congress.
Ind to these men was submitted this prob
am: How shall we combine these sovereigns
nto one sovereignty? How shall we take
ust enough power from the thirteen to form
government sufficient for all general con-
erns, especially commerce and foreign
fairs, and yet leave all other powers unim-
aired in each state9
THE CONVENTION.